A year after Trinidad and Tobago rallied to help 20-year-old UWI student Chloe Ramnarine access life-saving cancer treatment abroad, the young survivor now stands in remission—healthier, hopeful, and determined to use her second chance to uplift others facing the same terrifying diagnosis.
Chloe, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, underwent treatment and a bone marrow transplant at Colombia’s internationally recognised Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, with support from Miami-based HOPE Foundation. Her recovery has not only transformed her life but is also helping build a new partnership aimed at improving access to specialised cancer care for local patients.
A Christmas Filled With Gratitude
For Chloe’s mother, Thillyer Ramnarine, the difference between last Christmas and this one is immeasurable.
“This Christmas is so happy compared to last Christmas… We went through so much,” she said during an interview with Guardian Media. “The doctors in Trinidad did everything they could, and in Colombia, those people were so nice. Everything was smooth. God really paved the way.”
She hopes future families will be able to access critical treatment locally without the emotional and financial strain of travelling abroad.
A Diagnosis More Serious Than She Realised
Reflecting on her journey, Chloe recalled believing she had a manageable stage two cancer when she left for Colombia.
“But when we went across there and they redid all the scans—they told me I was early stage four. I was shocked. I didn’t know it could escalate so quickly,” she said.
She also feared the cost of the complex care she needed, but the Fundación Santa Fe and the HOPE Foundation provided critical financial and logistical support, ensuring she received the treatment required—including her bone marrow transplant.
Today, she continues her after-care in Trinidad, funded personally, grateful simply to be home.
“It was a roller-coaster of emotions,” she said. “But although I was sick, I didn’t feel sick all the time. I kept a bubbly mindset. That helped me a lot.”
Becoming a Quiet Mentor
Since sharing her experience, Chloe has become a confidential support system for other teenagers and young adults battling cancer.
“The main thing they want is not to feel like a patient,” she said. “They want to be seen and heard as regular people.”
She offers advice, compassion, and understanding—things she wished she had during her own darkest moments.
Her mother now dreams of forming a foundation dedicated to helping young cancer patients emotionally and financially, similar to the HOPE Foundation that supported Chloe.
A Troubling Trend Among Young Patients
Chloe has noticed a rise in cancer diagnoses among young people.
“Out of nowhere, teenagers and young adults are getting cancers,” she said. “We have yet to find a reason.”
She believes more research and stronger national support systems are urgently needed, especially for families who cannot afford treatment abroad.
“They really need more help for people who cannot afford treatment… The doctors are trying, but they don’t have enough resources or teams to manage so many cases.”
A Message to Those Struggling This Season
As Christmas approaches, Chloe’s message is simple:
“Although the situation can be tough, it doesn’t have to be gloomy. You can make your own light in dark situations.”
She admits fear, sadness, and depression were part of her journey—but not the whole story.
“Not everything has to be a sad story. You can make it happy.”
Building Bridges for Better Care
Last Thursday, Aishell Sanchez, international marketing and market director at Fundación Santa Fe, travelled from Colombia to Trinidad to meet Chloe in person. She hopes Chloe’s success will spark a broader medical partnership.
“I’m here to build bridges,” Sanchez said. “Trinidad has many patients, especially young ones, and not enough resources or specialists to manage all cases.”
Fundación Santa Fe already treats patients from Curaçao, Aruba, Ecuador, Panama, the Dominican Republic, St. Vincent, and Grenada—but Sanchez says Trinidad and Tobago is uniquely positioned for deeper collaboration.
“Colombia is a great option because our culture is similar to yours. We have the infrastructure, the technology, and many specialists willing to help.”
The hospital has also partnered with Elizabeth Paucar Harris, CEO of HOPE’s Patient Concierge team, which includes coordinators and medical liaisons across Colombia and Ecuador.
Closing Gaps in Regional Healthcare
Paucar Harris said Chloe’s struggle reflects the challenges faced by many Caribbean patients.
“Many complex cancer treatments are limited or unavailable locally,” she noted.
HOPE works to guide patients through the most frightening stages of their medical journey—helping them navigate options at moments when they feel they have none.
“Chloe’s journey is a powerful example of what becomes possible when patients receive timely guidance and access to the right specialists,” Paucar Harris said. “Her story shows others they are not alone.”
Lighting the Way Forward
What began as a desperate fight for survival has now become a catalyst for something bigger: new partnerships, expanded access to advanced treatment, and a growing support network inspired by Chloe’s courage.
Her experience is lighting a path for others who will confront the same diagnosis she once feared she would not survive.
Chloe can be reached at 490-8119.
Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá can be contacted at internacional@fsfb.org.co.
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